Our Dirt

I bought Charlotte a jumperoo. She loves it. She plays for a bit and then she naps. Play. Nap. Perfect. She can barely reach the ground...so we've helped her out a bit. She doesn't quite get the jumping part just yet...but, she certainly loves the toys.

I bought the toy at Once Upon a Child. Have you been there? I felt ridiculous spending $100 for something that we will only use for a couple months. So...2nd hand it was. It was still $45. Stupid. Oh well.


Warning: the next part of this post may leave you feeling like I'm a bit of a snot. So...if you only want to think good thoughts of me...STOP NOW!


Once Upon a Child is 1.5 miles away. I entered the store and went straight to the entertainers. I located a jumperoo. I glanced at the price and lugged it to the front to make my purchase. I paid. I then grabbed the jumperoo and realized it was dirty. I disgustingly asked the store clerk if they clean the merchandise (you know - because they say that they wash all the clothes and sanitize the toys). She tells me they have clorox wipes and hands me a container.


Seriously.


I just paid for this entertainer 1 minute ago and she is now handing me a container of wipes to clean it. So...one by one I used up literally about 40 wipes on the enterainer while at the same time holding back the vomit.


Was that excessive? Probably...but, I was a scrubbing fool.
Was it really that dirty? Probably not.
Why was I so disgusted? Because it was someone else's dirt.


After I finished cleaning the jumperoo and used up the container of wipes, I carried it to the car an brought it home. Upon returning home...I scrubbed some more and washed the seat.

As I was completing my second thorough scrub of the toy...my mind wondered. I thought about how dirty the toy really was. Yes, it was dirty...but, definitely not out of control. Not any dirtier than either of the cuties booster seats in the car. So...if it wasn't out of control dirty - why was I so disgusted?


Here's the kicker - I realized that I think that MY dirt is better than other people's dirt. Yep. I'm a dirt snob. I admit that I am kind of a clean freak. But, really not OCD. In fact - my floors are filthy (they haven't been mopped in like 3 weeks) they've got spots everywhere...but somehow, I don't care. However - I'm sure if I walked into a stranger's house and saw these exact same spots...I'd be disgusted. The funny thing is, I would never hesitate to let Charlotte play with my friends' or family's toys. I wouldn't even notice if they were dirty...but - if it's a stranger...GROOOOOOOOOOOSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!

Yep. I'm a dirt snob.

BLC

Here's my newest creation.

I can't take full credit.

I'm a blog copycat.

sorry for the weird angle - I was trying to avoid the flash light.

What did it take?

Frame - 1/2 off at Hobby Lobby

brown card stock

chipboard letters

cream paint

glitter

linen-ish material from hobby lobby

modge podge

pictures of the cuties

tape & scissors

I had everything but the frame. If I did it again...I'd skip the glitter. It got all over and I still have specks all over the glass. It's impossible to get every piece...and if I look to close at it...they drive me crazy! But...I think it turned out good enough. Even the Hottie noticed it when he and Brades returned from camping...so it must be cute!

Craft Night

Anyone interested in a craft night at my house?

Hmm...what is craft night?

Well, craft night will include drinks, food, chatting, and crafting. I'm open to all crafts. The holidays are coming up and we should all be getting our craft on. I love homemade!

If you're interested...I'll host it - but, I need some participants....Start looking for craft ideas. I've found lots...here's a few.

For the parent, looking to build structure....
http://www.lilluna.com/2010/08/creative-guest-post-magnetic-chore.html

For the LDS friend or sitter (like mine)...or if you have another quote...
http://www.lilluna.com/2010/07/tutorial-tuesday-our-family-forever.html

For the Halloween lover...
http://www.sassytalk.net/Home_Page.php
(really...this could be done for all holidays, birthdays, countdowns, days of the week, etc.)

For the tank or tee flower accessorizer...
http://www.poshlittletutus.com/item_51/Girls-Blooming-Flower-ChiffonTutu-Pettiskirt-Top.htm

For the office...
http://www.howdoesshe.com/my-favorite-things-with-2x4s

For the reeeeaaaaaally clean peeps...
http://www.howdoesshe.com/please-remove-your-shoes

For some Subway Art...
http://diaryofacraftaholic.blogspot.com/2010/05/rtw-subway-art-tutorial.html
(think of what you could do...favorite phrase/quote, family rules, love reminders, chores, alphabet, etc.). This one's cute, too:
http://adventuresofthemichelenafamily.blogspot.com/2010/09/spooktacular-subway-art-tutorial.html And, this one:
http://www.sawdustandpaperscraps.com/2010/09/halloween-subway-art.html

For some door decor...
http://adventuresofthemichelenafamily.blogspot.com/2010/07/twine-wreath-tutorial.html

For an anniversary or engagement gift...
http://adventuresofthemichelenafamily.blogspot.com/2010/07/picture-plaque-tutorial.html

For that old dollar store plaque...
http://www.creationsbykara.com/2010/09/dollar-store-antiqued-plaque-tutorial.html

For those girlie headbands that are so cute...
http://www.creationsbykara.com/2010/06/dollar-store-denim-rosette-headband-tutorial.html
And for the rosettes: http://littlebirdiesecrets.blogspot.com/2010/09/fabric-rosette-tutorial-extravaganza.html

For a monogrammed plaque...
http://www.creationsbykara.com/2009/05/cheap-easy-wood-plaque.html

OMG!! There are gazillions of crafts out there I want to make...anyone want to join??

Please say yes!

Schnepf's

It's that time of year again. Schnepf's Farm. It has definitely become an annual event for all of us. This year was extra special...we were joined by:

• The norm - my parents, Cori and Aidyn, the Babcock's, Billy,
• Robin, Aaron, Lincoln, and London,
• Aunt Karen and Bart,
• Aunt Rene, Uncle Mart, KateLynn, and Carley,
• Bobby, Laura, Michelle, and Jenny,
• Rainie, Justin, and Talon,
• BJ, Stacey, James, and Kate
• Bob and Ava

Yep...it was a gigantic crew of us making our way through the farm. We ate, enjoyed a hayride, rode the carousel, slide, swings, coaster, bumble bees, airplanes, and of course the train. We always go later in the day and enjoy the "haunted" train after dark. Funny how we go to a pumpkin patch...and leave without pumpkins. Somehow...we normally decide to just go for the fun and then get our pumpkin at Fry's. Is that weird?

We're getting close...Happy Halloween!

I love this picture!

Thank you Ashley!!

Fruit Punch

Saturday night we had date night. Well...really we hung out with some friends for drinks, food, and laughs. And...probably me talking waaaay too much. But, oh well! My parents took the cuties home from a family birthday party. To make it easier, they drove the van - and we drove my mom's car.

First - I was so embarrassed because our van = filthy. Their car = newly washed. My dad even wrote a little note to us on the windshield...WASH ME.

Second - I'm not sure...but, I think my mom is trying to create a Fruit Punch air freshener. Check this out.

And...the air fresheners didn't stop there - a second strawberry one hung just below.

4 Months

Our chunky-monkey is 4 months.
She really hit 4 months back on the 24th of September.
But, today was her 4 month check-up.
(we're a little behind)

4 month stats:
Weight: 14 pounds, 9 ounces (50%)
Length: 24.5 inches (50%)
Head circumference: 43.1 centimeters (80%)
She got 3 shots.
She cried.
The other 2 cuties laughed.
It was kind of funny.

It's hard to believe that it has been 4 months. But, at the same time...it's hard to believe that it has ONLY been 4 months. It seems like she's been with us forever.

Happy 4 month birthday!!
(3 weeks ago)